APPOINTMENT SYSTEM

Tel: 020 8866 0200 (General) 020 8866 8981 (Appointments) Fax: 020 8429 3087

We offer several types of appointment

· Routine

· Emergency.

· Telephone Triage

· Special Clinics

ROUTINE APPOINTMENTS

These are scheduled consultation slots during normal surgery hours.

The benefits are that you will normally have a selection of times and dates, your choice of doctor, a full consultation and will be seen promptly. The benefits to the practice are that we can schedule the doctor’s and other medical staff’s time effectively and retrieve any test results in advance. All patients benefit from improved practice efficiency.

Routine appointments are usually booked two or more days in advance – the earlier, the better the chance of getting a particular time or particular doctor.

Please note that our receptionists may ask for details of your condition to assist the medical staff when arranging an appointment. All such information is in complete confidence.

ur phone lines tend to be very busy first thing in the morning. It would be helpful to you and us if you could telephone for routine appointments after 10:00 am.

EMERGENCY APPOINTMENTS

Emergency appointments are for urgent problems that cannot be left for 24 hours or more.

You will be seen on that day. However, we will usually have to slot you in as and when we can, typically at the end of morning or afternoon surgery. You will not necessarily get a choice of doctor and the consultation time will be the minimum necessary to deal with the immediate problem. You may be offered an appointment with the Nurse Practitioner, who is able to treat and prescribe for many minor ailments & injuries. A doctor is always available for consultation if the problem is more serious.

Emergency appointments will NOT be made for repeat prescriptions, clinics and the like.

For serious accidents, of course, the Emergency 999 service should be used.

TELEPHONE TRIAGE

If you just need advice, or are unsure whether you need a full consultation, we also offer a telephone consultation with one of the doctors most mornings. The receptionist will take a phone number where the doctor can ring you back, normally the same day and within 2 hours.

If the doctor needs to see you after the telephone consultation, you will then be given a normal or emergency appointment.

CLINICS & MISCELLANEOUS

We offer a number of specialist clinics which are run by the doctors, practice nurses, mid-wives & other specialist staff. They include:

	Diabetic
	Asthma
	Ante Natal
	Well-Woman
	Travel Vaccinations
	Well Person
	General or Special Medicals

These clinics are of various duration – typically a “double slot” of 20 minutes. They are usually held on specific days or dates.

BOOKING APPOINTMENTS

You may book appointments by telephone or in person during normal surgery hours. Normal hours are Monday to Friday, Bank Holidays excluded. Please do not ring this number for results.

· Mornings – 8:30 am to 1:30 pm

· Afternoon – 2:30 pm to 5:00 pm.

Tel 020 8866 8981

For emergencies only please, you may also ring during lunch time on our general enquiry line 020 8866 0200.

OUT OF HOURS

When the practice is closed, our emergency service cover is via an agency called Harmoni.
Harmoni works with NHS Direct and is a doctor’s cooperative.

You will be assessed on the phone and if necessary, asked to attend one of the Primary Care Centres. These are based at Hillingdon & Northwick Park Hospital.

THESE ARE NOT WALK-IN CENTRES and appointments must be made via Harmoni.

Tel 0845 850 1568

NHS DIRECT 0845 46 47

Walk In Centre – nearest Edgware Community Hospital Burnt Oak Broadway. Open 24 Hours.

CANCELLATIONS

If any of our regular doctors are unavailable, we will try to avoid any cancellations by bringing in locum doctors.

If on your part, you need to cancel an appointment, please advise us as early as possible. This is much appreciated as we can almost certainly re-use your scheduled slot for other routine and emergency patients.

LATE ATTENDANCE

Regretfully, if you arrive late for any appointment, we may not be able to fit you in and will have to re-book you for another day.

Exceptionally, and at the discretion of the doctor or practice manager, emergency appointments may be re-scheduled for later that same day.

GENERAL ENQUIRIES

If you have any questions about appointments or the practice in general, please speak to one of our receptionists, or our Practice Manager, who will be pleased to help.

We also hold a number of leaflets about various medical topics and ailments.

Either ask in person at the desk, or phone

Tel 020 8866 0200

And finally